Parish and School News

Farewell to a much-loved parish priest

Kairos: Volume 21, Issue 04

On Sunday 28 February, the Parish of St Anne’s, East Kew, said farewell to Fr Jack Brady, who had been its parish priest for nearly 18 years. A very large congregation of past and present parishioners, friends, family, and staff from the school first attended a Mass of celebration which Fr Brady concelebrated with Frs J. Feenan and A. Guelen.

School principal John Connors and Parish Pastoral Council president Denis Stephenson thanked Fr Brady for his untiring and constant pastoral care, as well as his exemplary administration of the parish. These sentiments were endorsed with a prolonged standing ovation by all present.

In his response, Fr Brady reminded us that he was retiring as the oldest serving parish priest in the Archdiocese, leaving 59 years to the day since he entered Corpus Christi College, Werribee. He related stories of his time as curate and parish priest at Flemington, Kyneton, Gordon, Parkville as chaplain at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Mitcham, Norlane, and North Geelong/Ashby before coming to St Anne’s in 1992. He concluded his farewell message to his congregation with the words of St John: “Love one another.”

The celebrations continued in St Anne’s splendid new hall, which had been completed just in time to accommodate the overwhelming crowd of well-wishers, where a light lunch was served, and Fr Brady cut the traditional cake. Several presentations were made, including a computer to ensure Fr Brady kept in touch with all in his retirement.